Sally Hansen died at the age of 56 after a 6-month battle with lung cancer. Her death marked the end of a multifaceted career as a businesswoman, inventor, dancer, actress, and writer. At the time of her death, she left the remainder of her estate to her third husband, Jack Newton.

Sally Hansen filed for divorce from her second husband, Adolf M. Hansen. This decision reflects Hansen's strong ambition and drive to pursue her own career goals, which were not fully aligned with her husband's.